ACHIEVING A UNIFORM AND CONSISTENT GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR A MAJOR RAILWAY SYSTEM

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) West Rail commissioned a five year ergonomics study in 1998 to assess four rail control systems. The study, which focused solely on ergonomics issues, was the first of its kinds in Hong Kong. The Railway recognized the need to consider the human aspect in their operations and aimed to achieve a uniform and consistent Graphical User Interface (GUI) with the existing systems and between the new systems being developed. A Uniform GUI provide benefits that are manifold; an overall integrated company aesthetic, the reduction of the probability of human error during operations, less rigorous training requirements, and the potential for promoting multi-tasking abilities amongst the different operators. With the increasing number of new railway lines being planned for future, there is a need to determine the standardization requirements and to examine what level of integration would be the optimal solution for a railway. This paper discusses the approach that was taken to achieve a uniform GUI for West Rail systems and the way ergonomics should be applied to future railways.